Bulimia Nervosa and Anorexia Nervosa Essay

This eating disorder causes extreme weight loss, malnutrition (due to lack of food), Depression and self-hatred. It also includes Headaches; bloodshot eyes, fatigue, obsession with body weight and appearance. Long term effects of Bulimia are: tooth enamel breakage due to constant contact with stomach acids when vomiting. Stomach ulcers (which are open sores with in the stomach) dental cavity’s, constant dehydration, and irregular heartbeat (which can lead to heart attacks).Also higher chances of suicidal behaviors and feelings.

According to the Mayo Clinic (2016), eating disorders are “conditions related to persistent eating behaviors that negatively impact your health, your emotions, and your ability to function in important areas of life.” One such eating disorder is anorexia nervosa. Not to be confused with anorexia, which is simply a general loss of appetite that can be attributed to many medical ailments, anorexia nervosa is a serious eating disorder and mental illness (Nordqvist, 2015). Anorexia nervosa is estimated to affect about .9% of women and .3% of men in their lifetime (“Eating Disorder Statistics & Research,” n.d.). In general, the disorder is commonly characterized by a distorted body image or self-concept, critically low weight (with respect to the patient’s height and age), and an irrational fear of becoming fat or an intense desire to be thin. There are two subtypes to this eating disorder: restrictive and binge/purge. In the restrictive type, the individual limits caloric intake and may compulsively over-exercise. In the binge/purge type, the individual consumes a considerable amount of food in a short period of time (binging) and then deliberately vomits (purging), takes laxatives, or fasts intensely in order to compensate for the food eaten (“General Information: Anorexia Nervosa,” n.d.). In either case, anorexia nervosa is undoubtedly a dangerous and alarming illness.

On average, women are more likely to experience an eating disorder. Although, men are not eliminated from eating disorders. Eating disorders pertain to a patient who is unsatisfied with one’s current body image. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are the most common eating disorders. These two eating disorders are similar in ways that are characterized by low self esteem, body dysmorphia, and signs of depression. However, anorexia, anorexia nervosa, and bulimia nervosa should not be confused. Anorexia is the

There are several symptoms that can be found in individuals suffering from bulimia nervosa. These symptoms include depression, substance abuse, body dissatisfaction, and tooth decay. If found in an individual who is not diagnosed, these may be early indicators that the individual is suffering from bulimia. This is very helpful in cases where patients are secretive about their eating habits. (Manning & Murphy,

Anorexia and Bulimia could possibly cause kidney failure, heart problems, dehydration, and severe malnutrition. (Source 1) Some people that have a body image that is negative often develop an eating disorder. As well as, are more likely to fall into depression. Along with the depression can come anxiety. (Source 3)

According to the American Psychiatric Association (2013) bulimia nervosa is when a person has repeatedly binged when eating. During the binge phase, the person will have very little control over their actions and consume large amounts of food in a short period of time. Typically a person battling with bulimia will exhibit inappropriate behaviors to refrain from gaining weight by exercising excessively, using laxatives, vomiting, taking medications, diuretics, and fasting. It is required that the person continue these behaviors for at least once a week for three months, and there is a major

Like anorexia nervosa people with bulimia nervosa fear gaining weight, desperately want to lose weight and are unhappy with their body. People with bulimia nervosa tend to be a normal weight or even under weight, which makes bulimia nervosa hard to detect. There are, however, warning signs of bulimia nervosa that include weights fluctuations, over-exercise, sneaking of food, unhealthy skin hair and nails (Self Image media Influences). If left untreated, bulimia nervosa can lead to serious and even life-threatening problems, such as depression, anxiety disorders, heart damage, kidney damage, injury to all parts of the digestive system, and severe dental damage (About Eating Disorders). People with bulimia nervosa can develop dangerous behaviors such as alcohol and/or drug abuse, sexual longing, cutting or self-mutilation, and kleptomania, which is the urge to steal even if you have no need for it.

Bulimia nervosa is a life-threatening eating disorder, bulimia is when an individual purposely vomits to undo or compensate to make up for what he or she consumed. According to the article, “Why do young adults develop eating disorders,” the true reason to bulimia nervosa has not been found, but many factors of the cause have been found by researchers. These factors include: genetics, biochemistry, psychological, society and environmental surroundings. Many individuals who have bulimia nervosa use unhealthy behaviors and food to manage emotions or stressful situations. While these behaviors may work in short term, they end up making the individual emotionally and physically worse in long term.

Bulimia nervosa is a second eating disorder that needs attention drawn to it. Bulimia was pretty much unknown before the mid 1970’s (Dippel, N. & Becknal, K., 1987). Bulimia consists of binging and purging (eating as much as possible and then throwing it up). In a study that was conducted it was found that after bulimics had attempted several diets without success, they then became aware of vomiting or laxatives as a means to weight loss (Herzog, 1982). The symptoms of bulimia heave to do with preoccupations with food, weight, body image, and ridding themselves of ingested food (Dippel, N. & Becknal, K., 1987). Most people throw up because they feel guilty for consuming all the foods they know they shouldn’t have. They vomit not only to get rid of the food but to get rid of any unwanted feelings and emotions. Most patients begin purging approximately 1 year after the binge eating has started. As scary as the facts may sound, what is even scarier is the affects

There are multiple types of eating disorders besides Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa, such as binge eating disorder, purging disorder, and night eating syndrome. Atypical Anorexia nervosa as is it most commonly known is having a weight that is extremely below the recommended weight. As a result, many of the people who are classified under this eating disorder starve themselves, so that their body can become thin. In some situations, they starve themselves so much that it can at times become fatal. According to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, approximately 1 % of the adolescent girls will develop this eating disorder and about 20 % of the people struggling with this eating disorder will die prematurely from complications such as, heart problems or suicide (Miller, 2013, para 2). Bulimia Nervosa occurs when the person has an insanity for overeating too much in short periods and this is then followed by binge eating or purging. The main cause for Bulimia is when the patient has a distorted image of themselves and they see something different from what they really look like. Bulimia Nervosa can be categorized as overeating, fasting, or purging. According to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, they say that 3 % of young women will develop Bulimia nervosa. The source also says that about 50 % of the people who had Anorexia will most likly develop Bulimia or Bulimic patterns later on in their life (Miller,

Bulimia nervosa, another very complex eating disorder, is wildly different from its sister disorder Anorexia Nervosa. Very unlike Anorexia, Bulimia involves eating an largely abnormal amount of food in very short surges of time. Then to avoid gaining weight individuals purge what was recently consumed, these very often include binging and purging episodes. There are also two different types of Bulimia: purging and non purging. Purging Bulimia is when one regularly engages in self induced vomiting or abuse of laxatives after a long period of bingeing. The second type of Bulimia is the non purging type. In this form of Bulimia one will use decoy methods of bingeing such as excessive exercising or fasting. Risks of Bulimia are: broken vessels,

Anorexia has many negative effects as well. According to the University of Maryland Medical Centers article Eating Disorders, “Anorexia nervosa can increase the risk for serious health problems such as: hormonal changes including reproductive, thyroid, stress, and growth hormones, heart problems such as abnormal heart rhythm, electrolyte imbalance, fertility problems, bone density loss, anemia, and neurological problems.” Anorexia can severely affect a person internally. The continuous lack of nutrients can leave an anorexic person extremely frail. The heart in particular can grow so weak, that heart failure occurs. Eating disorders can lead too permanent health damages can stay with a person for the rest of their life.

Symptoms of Bulimia Nervosa include eating large amount of good before inducing vomiting. There are two types of this disorder: purging and non-purging. Purging include going to bathroom and throwing up after meals. They binge and purge. Non-purgers don’t throw up, instead, they exercise at abnormal rates and using laxatives regularly. Both of them often fast for the next day or two after binging. Their weights go up and down. They are mostly at normal weight or overweight making it harder for people to detect their sickness. People with Bulimia usually have bad breath, discolored teeth from throwing up, puffy face, and swollen fingers. They are at risk of having stomach

This bulimic group is usually more mature and less obsessive with the idea. The last form of Bulimia is Multi-Impulsive Bulimia Nervosa this illness begins just like simple bulimia begins and in the same age group. This illness is usually caused by emotional and impulse control and most of the same reasons as simple bulimic sufferers. Most multi-impulsive bulimia nervosa sufferers also suffer from drug or alcohol abuse, self-harm [cutting forearms], and stealing. Usually there is a disturbance in the family of somewhat and in personality they have shown poor interest in normal activities, school, and socializing.

There are two cause which effect the person with Bulimia nervosa which are depression and anxiety